Carton-filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Carton-filling apparatus which is adjustable to handle cartons of different sizes and includes a plurality of reciprocable filling heads each having a filling tube and foot valve movable into and out of a carton. An in-motion adjustment device is provided to change the amount of movement of the filling tube while the apparatus is in operations to compensate for overfilling and underfilling of the cartons. A clean-in-place device enables the apparatus to be cleaned without disassembly, and a no-carton, no-fill device is provided to deactivate the filling heads when a carton is not present to receive the product therefrom.

plurality of g a filling tube and foot valve movable into and out of a carton. An in-motion adjustof movement of ions to compen ons. A clean-intus to be cleaned without disprovided to deaccarton is not present to receive 1,778,216 10/1930 Hansen.................. 2,374,268 4/1945 Bingham 3,105,525 10/1963 Boucher.......................

FOREIGN PATENTS 1 10,198 4/1940 Australia Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Gei Assistant Examiner- Edward J. Earls Attorneys-Francis W. Anderson and C. E. Tripp ABSTRACT: Carton-filling apparatus which is adjustable to handle cartons of different sizes and includes a reciprocable filling heads each havin ment device is provided to change the amount the filling tube while the apparatus is in operat sate for overfilling and underfilling of the cart place device enables the appara assembly, and a no-carton, no-fill device is tivate the filling heads when a the product therefrom.

N0. 461,768,.Iune 7,1965,

141/89, 141/140, 141/147, 141/152 B65b3/12 141/89,9l, 147, 152, 177, 188, 266; 198/203, 209; 53/(C0nsulted) O United States Patent [72] inventors Leslievndas LosGatos; Robert W. Drake, San Jose, Calif. [21] AppLNo, 712,203 [22] Filed Mar.l1,l968

Division of Ser. Pat No. 3,456,419. [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee FMC Corporation SanJose,Calif.

[54] CARTON-FILLING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 38 Drawing Figs.

[51] [50] Fieldol'Search...............

[56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 1,512,764 10/1924 Holmquist,Sr...............

1 S ll .1 Es i n m W lung Q {E an/win.

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1. In a carton-forming and filling machine, a filling turret for filling cartons each having a sealed bottom closure and an open top closure, comprising a stationary frame, a stationary column secured to said frame and having a vertical axis, a rotary column journaled on said frame and held from vertical movement relative thereto, a tool support secured to said rotary column, a supply tank having a flowable material therein secured to said tool support and journaled for rotation about the upPer end of said stationary column, a plurality of evenly spaced filling valves supported by said tool support, a vertically movable frame, a drive hub supported by said frame for vertical movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto, said drive hub being slidably received on said rotary column for vertical movement relative thereto, a turret drive sprocket journaled on said hub, latch means normally locking said drive sprocket to said hub, means connecting said hub to said tool support for rotation therewith and for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, an endless conveyor trained around said drive sprocket, a plurality of carton carriers secured to said conveyor and having cartons therein in alignment with associated ones of said filling valves for receiving flowable material from said valves, first drive means for continuously driving said conveyor, means including a filling valve-actuating means for releasing flowable material from said filling valves into the cartons when aligned with the cartons to fill the cartons, adjustment means for varying the distance of said carton carriers and said flow releasing means from said tool support for accommodating and filling cartons of different sizes with different volumes of flowable materials, and a no-carton, no-fill device associated with said conveyor for detecting the absence of a carton in a carrier and to deactivate the filling valve associated with the carrier upon such detection.
 2. A filling turret according to claim 1 wherein said filling valve-actuating means includes an annular cam having a stationary portion and a vertically movable portion.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including a clean-in-place device comprising, means for locking the movable portion of said annular cam in an elevated position, means for disconnecting said drive sprocket from said drive hub, means for deactivating said no-carton, no-fill device, clean-in-place drive means independent of said first drive means for driving said filling valves through their normal cycles of operation with a cleaning solvent in said tank and thereafter with the flushing liquid in said tank.
 4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve-actuating means includes an annular cam having a stationary portion and a vertically movable portion, means connecting said vertically movable portion of said cam to said movable frame for movement therewith, and an in-motion adjustment means for vertically adjusting said movable portion of said cam track independently of the movement of said movable frame so as to compensate for slight overfilling or underfilling of the cartons.
 5. In a carton-forming and filling machine, a filling turret for filling cartons having a sealed bottom closure and an open top closure, comprising a stationary frame, a stationary column secured to said frame and having a vertical axis, a rotary column journaled on said frame and held from movement relative thereto, a tool support secured to said rotary column, a supply tank having a flowable therein secured to said tool support and journaled the lower rotation about the upper end of said stationary column, a plurality of evenly spaced filling heads supported by said tool support, a vertically movable frame, a drive hub supported by said frame for vertical movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto, said hub being slidably received on said rotary column for vertical movement relative thereto, a turret drive sprocket journaled on said hub, latch means normally locking said drive sprocket to said hub, means connecting said hub to said tool support for rotation therewith and for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, an endless conveyor trained around said drive sprocket, a plurality of carton carriers secured to said conveyor and having cartons therein alignment with associated ones of said filling valves for receiving flowable material from said valves, first drive means for continuously driving said conveyor, each filling head including a first open-ended tubular cylinder, means connecting one end of said first cylinder to said supply tank, a vertically movable tubular cylinder concentric with and having the upper end thereof sealed to said first cylinder, means for preventing rotation of said movable cylinder relative to said said stationary cylinder, a filling tube formed on the lower end of said movable cylinder, a pressure-responsive foot valve closing the lower end of said filling tube when the pressure within the tube is low and opening the foot valve when the pressure within the filling tube is high, means within said movable cylinder defining an inlet valve, a cam follower connected to said movable cylinder, an annular cam track having a stationary portion and a movable portion in position to receive said cam follower and to vertically reciprocate said movable cylinder, means connecting said stationary cam portion to said stationary column, means connecting said movable portion to said movable frame, said annular cam adapted to lower said filling tube into the container therebelow until said foot valve is disposed immediately above the bottom closure and to thereafter raise the filling tube out of the carton, second cam means secured to said stationary column, means for operatively connecting said inlet valve means to said second cam means for opening said inlet valve when said filling tube is moving downwardly a predetermined distance and thereafter to close said inlet valve and to move said closed valve downwardly for a short distance when said filling tube is at its lowermost position thereby increasing the pressure in said filling tube causing said foot valve to open and slowly discharge material into the carton to a level above said foot valve, means for holding said inlet valve closed while said filling tube is being moved upwardly thereby causing the flowable material to flow into the carton to fill the same, said second cam means opening said inlet valve to relieve the pressure in the filling tube and close said foot valve as said filling tube is being raised out of said carton, and adjustment means provided for vertically adjusting said movable frame and said movable portion of said annular cam to accommodate cartons of different sizes and to fill proportionate quantities of flowable material into each carton size.
 6. A filling turret according to claim 5 and additionally comprising an in-motion adjustment means for vertically adjusting said vertical portion of said annular cam independently of the movement of said movable frame for compensating for slight overfilling or underfilling of the cartons.
 7. A filling turret according to claim 5 wherein a no-carton, no-fill device is provided and is activated upon detection of the absence of a carton in one of said carriers, and wherein means responsive to the activation of said no-carton, no-fill device is provided to block said vertically movable cylinder of the associated filling valve in its uppermost position thereby deactivating said filling valve. 